Laptops
FAQ & Section Info
Laptops That Fit
From the office to your living room and anywhere in between laptop computers have become a necessity in today's world of mobility. As our lives become more globalized more people are opting for a laptop that fits with their flexibility. Whether riding the bus to school, waiting at the terminal for your flight or on your feet at a worksite you need the best laptop that fits your lifestyle.Choosing the best laptop comes down to defining your needs and asking yourself what you are looking to accomplish. With options ranging from performance orientated gaming laptops, heavy duty mobile workstations, thin & light ultrabooks, professional business laptops, and your favorite consumer laptops you are bound to find a laptop that fits you.
What Laptop should I buy?
Today's laptops have a wide range of functionality and capabilities, ranging from simple web-surfing systems to models optimized for playing today's high-end games. To get the laptop that's right for you, you should consider how you will use your computer, as this will influence your decision on the capabilities of your machine.
Why choose a refurbished or recertified laptop?
Refurbished or recertified laptops are a great choice for multiple reasons. Recertified laptops generally go through an extensive series of redundant quality assurance tests to ensure proper operation. Much like cars, new electronics tend to depreciate at accelerated rates during the first year. It is best to purchase a computer second hand as the performance of the previous years model will suffice for most users. Scratch and dent computers may have slight imperfections to their housing however the important aspects such as the screen and keyboard will be intact.
What qualities should I be looking for in a laptop?
This question depends on how you will be using your computer. If you're constantly on the move, you don't want to carry around a massive laptop, so finding a model that doesn't weigh too much will be the most important factor. If you need a mobile workstation, you'll be more concerned with processing power rather than how comfortable it is to carry, so you'll want to look for a model with a powerful CPU and large amounts of RAM. Laptops come in a wide variety of options and styles, so think carefully about how you want to use yours and use that to guide your decision.
Which operating system should I choose?
Gone are the days of using the same operating system on every computer, regardless of its intended function. Today's operating systems are optimized for specific models and uses, so you'll want to take that into account when considering which model of laptop to purchase.
Windows 10 laptops are the latest and greatest models to hit the market. Utilizing Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system, these models have quickly become the standard in home & office computing. Combining the clean, familiar look of Windows 7 with the customizable tiles of Windows 8 wasn't easy, but the technology wizards at Microsoft have created a new operating system that is arguably better than the sum of its parts. Every copy of Windows 10 includes several brand-new programs and features which are designed to make your Windows experience easier to manage than ever before. For day-to-day activities you can access Cortana, the new digital assistant that responds to both voice and text commands to answer your questions as quickly as you can ask them. The venerable and familiar Internet Explorer has been replaced by the all-new Edge internet browser, designed from the ground up for a modern internet-browsing experience. And gamers everywhere will rejoice with the addition of DirectX12, enabling smooth, rich graphics for the next generation of high-end computer games. And for anyone who is concerned about losing access to their favorite applications and programs, don't worry! Windows 10 is fully backwards-compatible with programs designed for older versions of Windows, so you can keep enjoying your files for years to come!
Laptops that run Windows 7 function just like your computer at home or work, utilizing a familiar layout that is best navigated by using your touchpad or an external USB mouse. If you love your desktop and want the same experience in a more mobile package, Windows 7 would be a good choice.
Windows 8 is a newer operating system that is usually installed on laptops equipped with touchscreens. Inspired by the intuitive controls used in smartphones and tablet PC's, Windows 8 utilizes a customizable homescreen that can easily be navigated by touch, but still incorporates the added functionality of a touchpad and keyboard. This means you have the accessibility of a tablet, combined with the versatility and processing power of a more traditional laptop.
Long story short, if you want an immensely capable operating system to assist you in your day-to-day work that will be the future standard in PC's worldwide, purchase a laptop installed with Windows 10 today!
Chromebooks signify Google's entry into the world of PC hardware, and are designed to function like a laptop version of the mobile-based Android Operating system. Chromebooks optimized for easy access to all of your Google services such as Chrome, Drive, and Gmail at a single click, as all programs are run through your computer's browser. And as an added benefit all of your data including pictures, settings, and documents are stored online in the cloud, so there's zero-risk of ever losing your important files. If you are looking for a budget laptop that still allows for full functionality, give our Chromebooks a shot.
Instead of Windows, Macbooks run on OS X, which was created by Apple Inc. Though on the surface Apple's latest operating system looks bears a passing similarity to Windows, it functions completely differently, being optimized for multimedia processing. This specialization allows Macbooks to excel at things such as video editing and graphic design, through the use of programs such as GarageBand and Adobe Photoshop. So if you like adding special effects to your Youtube videos or want to create digital works of art, these systems would be an ideal choice for your next computer.
What are my options if I don't like using the touchpad to navigate?
This is a common complaint people have about using laptops, as many users have difficulties working on their portable PC's for extended periods of time without discomfort. To alleviate this, it is common to use an external mouse with your laptop, as it allows finer control and more ergonomic comfort for extended work sessions. We offer a wide selection of external keyboards and mice, both wired and wireless to meet the needs of such comfort-driven consumers.
Another criticism people tend to have about laptops is that they tend to heat up over time, which makes them uncomfortable to use during periods of extended use. Laptop cooling pads are the best way to alleviate this discomfort, as their USB-powered fans pass cool air to the underside of your laptop, lowering system temperatures and increasing performance.
My laptop is very hot - what can I do?
If your laptop is running very hot you can buy a notebook cooler pad to reduce your temperature and keep things stable. A cooler pad basically consists of one or more fans that pulls heat away from the bottom of your notebook and prevent the CPU, memory, & other internal components from overheating. If you're having heat issues you may be getting blue screens or warnings from your system. The good thing about cooler pads is that they are pretty universal so no matter what your brand or size, they will work fairly well.
Where can I get a low cost Windows 8 Desktop?
We've got Windows 8 desktops here and they're yours for the picking. With low prices on your desktop systems, you'll be able to get a Windows 8 PC for your workstation or just for home use. We have new and refurbished systems that give you great options without taking to big of a chunk out of your wallet.
What Windows 8 desktop do I need?
If you need a decent system at a low price, then you should check out our refurbished systems. They've been brought back to factory specs and come equipped with capable processors as well as plenty of storage and RAM for a SOHO system. We also have brand new systems to offer, with a range of processor performance from simple office and home use, to mid-range gaming performance.
Where & Why would I buy a Windows 7 laptop?
We stock several models of refurbished Windows 7 laptops (there are no more new releases on this OS). Theses are generally great deals for low-cost business computers. With a fresh install of Windows 7 on these laptops, you'll be able to pick and choose exactly what applications you have on your computer. Windows 7 is no longer supported for future updates except for limited security patches, however, it is still widely used and loved by a very large user base. Windows 7 is a joy to use, as it has great features for window arrangement, multi-core support for better performance, and is very customizable and user friendly.
Should I buy a refurbished laptop?
Refurbished Laptops are able to provide a quality system at a low cost. Restored to factory specs and given a clean Windows boot, refurb notebook computers are great for mobile work PCs, student computers, and general use.
What is a netbook computer?
A netbook computer is a cheap way to get laptop portability and performance at a lower cost. For people who want a small laptop with a keyboard on it, typically netbooks are less expensive than full sized laptops with screens ranging in sizes from 7 inches up to 11 inches. We stock a full line of new and refurbished netbooks that are designed to fit any budget. For internet browsing, simple computer use, and basic office / school work, you simply can't go wrong with a netbook!
Is a desktop faster than a laptop?
Not necessarily. Laptops / notebooks have really emerged with desktop-level components or equivalent specifications to make them your 'only' computer. Good enough for graphics editing and processing - good enough for gaming. Notebooks are the preferred option for PC buyers these days. They're easier to move around with you and pack the same punch you would expect from similarly priced desktop setups - with the added bonus of portability.
Top 5 things to look for when buying a new laptop
If you're looking to buy a new laptop and don't know where to start, jump in and start shopping around. Here are some factors to consider when choosing which laptop is best for you:Price
Staying within your budget on the laptop you decide to purchase is key to ensuring a good experience. Figure out how much you want to spend on your new laptop and look at the selection that fits your budget.Performance
Processor - laptop processors are all over the place in terms of performance - oftentimes it can be very difficult to know exactly how fast the system you are buying is because the naming conventions and ratings they assign to them are not as straightforward as desktop processors. Notebook check has a good tool for comparing laptop processors that you can look at. Memory - if you're not comfortable upgrading the memory on your laptop you'll definitely want to make sure you find one that will have enough for you out of the box. If you're going with a modern generation laptop this would mean at least 3GB - 4GB of laptop RAM (or more). However, if you're ok popping in a few sticks of RAM you may be able to save some money by purchasing a laptop with less memory up front and then upgrading right away.Hard Drive - with laptops it becomes a lot more difficult getting all your storage down to just your one device. While you can always carry an external hard drive around with you, you'll want to make sure the laptop has sufficient enough storage to be able to house all the files, documents, songs, movies, and whatever software you want to install on the primary drive. While laptop hard drives will vary, typically you'll find modern generation laptops use between 320GB to 1TB drives, with 500GB being a very common size.
Size & Weight
All laptops vary in size and weight. Most standard laptops today come with a 15" - 15.6" screen and weigh anywhere from 6-9 lbs, but the extent of how many options are out there are endless. A lot of times reduced size laptops will have features slowed-down or removed because of size restrictions, limited expansion room, and issues associated with heat. However, these laptops are far more portable and lighter to carry around.PC Brands vs. Apple
Apple now represents a large portion of the laptop market with PC manufacturers still outputting the bulk of the selection out there. Apple releases the Macbook and Macbook Pro lines of laptops while PC Laptop manufacturers (such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and others) all have their own various models. The main difference between these is that Apple will come with the operating systems they choose - with Apple using their own OS X, and the PC makers using Windows 7 and Windows 8. The choice here is yours, but the typical rule of thumb is that if you're looking for something in the low to mid-range market you will want to go PC. If you're considering something high-end and are comfortable using Mac OS X then you open yourself up to Apple laptops as an option.Battery Life
Battery life is often overlooked when purchasing a laptop but it's a critical factor to some who will be using their laptops on the go. Laptop batteries are designed to hold charge across a series of cells (the more cells your batter has, the more charge it will be able to hold). Your battery life will depend on how much capacity your battery has combined with how much power your laptop uses when it is on. Every manufacturer publishes some rating that should give you an idea of what type of battery life you will get with typical use. If you're OK plugging in your laptop all the time then this isn't as big of an issue - but if you're a road warrior looking to get by on a single charge the right laptop/battery life combination could be critical.
What Can (and Can't) Be Upgraded or Repaired on a Laptop
In general, laptops are much more difficult to repair than PCs, and it's understandable why they would be. Every model of laptop must be designed very specifically in order to cram all the needed computer goodness into such a small package. Unfortunately, all this engineering leads to a product that is very unique and, therefore, chock-full of low-demand components that are hard to find and expensive to purchase. There are, however, a few simple repairs and upgrades that can be made to your laptop if you've got the know-how.Why are laptops harder to repair?
Desktop computers are easy; a ten-year-old could build a desktop from the ground up without breaking a sweat. This is because desktops use mostly inter-compatible parts and are all assembled in more-or-less the same fashion. Laptops, on the other-hand, are built with parts specifically designed for their machines. This means that a motherboard for an HP DV6000 laptop will only be compatible with a single model and would be much harder to find than a mass-produced, super-compatible desktop part. Processors, video cards, and connectors are also locked in by the engineers when they create the computer. Laptops can't really be modified.